‘Cats Rally Late, Come Up Short At Penn State, 81-71

Sunday, February 15

University Park, Pa.

3 p.m. CT

Northwestern

8-17,2-12Big Ten

Penn State

9-17,2-13Big Ten

Northwestern

Penn St.

Photo by: Henry Frieman/Northwestern Athletics

‘Cats Rally Late, Come Up Short At Penn State, 81-71

2/15/2026 5:36:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

Righeimer scores career-high 18 points to lead ‘Cats

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (February 15, 2026) – Led by a career outing from Kat Righeimer, Northwestern (8-17, 2-12 B1G) stormed back within three late in regulation, but saw time run out on its comeback as it dropped an 81-71 decision to Penn State (9-17, 2-13 B1G) this afternoon at Rec Hall in University Park, Pa.

How It Happened
Caroline Lau got the 'Cats off and running just over a minute in, collecting an offensive rebound before drilling a triple to give Northwestern a 3-2 lead. A mid-range bucket from Casey Harter snapped an 8-0 run by the Lady Lions and brought the visitors back within five, 10-5. With its lead sitting at 15-12, Penn State rattled off seven of the frame's final eight points to push the margin to nine, 22-13.

The hosts kept their foot on the gas, opening the second quarter with a 9-0 surge to stretch their lead to 31-13. An old-fashioned three-point play from Grace Sullivan snapped the scoreless drought for the Wildcats at the 5:12 mark, as Penn State carried a 36-22 lead into halftime.

After seeing the Lady Lions take their largest lead of the afternoon, 42-22, two minutes into the second half, Righeimer looked to will Northwestern back, knocking down a transition three ahead of a conventional three-point play that cut the gap to 44-29 with 6:07 to play. Triples on consecutive trips from Xamiya Walton and Harter made it a 12-point game, 49-37, and prompted a Penn State timeout with 4:04 to go. Righeimer hit again from distance to bring the lead to single digits, 56-47, a margin that would hold entering the fourth quarter, with Penn State sitting in front, 58-49.

Lau and Righeimer dialed in again from outside in the early stages of the fourth quarter, with the latter's three bringing the 'Cats back within five, 62-57. Walton connected with a cutting Lau at the 6:10 mark to trim the Penn State lead to four, 63-59. Following a 6-0 spurt by the hosts that saw the deficit grow to 69-59, Northwestern refused to fold, as Sullivan finished through contact before converting at the free throw line to make it a one-score game, 74-71, with only 43 seconds remaining in regulation. Penn State provided the final punch, closing the day on a 7-0 run to hold off the Wildcats.

Gallery: (2-15-2026) Women's Basketball at Penn State

Inside The Box Score
- Righeimer erupted for a career-high 18 points (5-6 FGs, 3-4 3FGs, 5-6 FTs), 16 of which came during the second half.
- Lau reached double figures in scoring for the seventh time in nine games, finishing with 17 points (6-14 FGs, 3-8 3FGs, 2-2 FTs), five rebounds, three assists, and three steals.
- Sullivan rounded out a trio of double-figure scorers for the 'Cats with 16 points (4-13 FGs, 8-10 FTs) and seven rebounds.
- The Wildcats finished at 36 percent (9-of-25) from beyond the three-point arc, connecting on a season-high tying nine treys.
- Kiyomi McMiller led all scorers with 32 points (11-21 FGs, 1-3 3FGs, 9-11 FTs) and 12 rebounds for Penn State.

Up Next
Northwestern is back on the road at No. 13 Michigan State for a 5:30 p.m. CT tip-off on Wednesday, February 18.